High Food and Petrol prices solely due to external forces? - Accountability in the media

"These [the topics discussed on the Budget 2008 webstie]
include high oil and food prices, caused by factors outside of
Singapore's borders. "

In the context of the article, the CNA article seemed to try to
replicate exactly what the government wanted to them to say, without
considering the larger picture at work. Most Singaporeans would
probably understand that the hike in food prices could be attributed to
both external and internal sources. Externally, it is true that both
global fuel prices as well as food supply in Malaysia are factors in
the rise and fall of petrol and food prices in Singapore. Yet, internal
factors such as government policy and probable lack of strong bite from
consumer advocacy groups play their parts too. The hike in GST from 5%
to 7%, which is inherently regressive, has had an effect on the raising
of prices of raw imported materials, from noodles to minced meat to
vegetables. In addition, the rent of the foodcourt stalls might have
increased due to the increase cost in providing air-condition, cable
television and dish washing in the foodcourt due to the increase in
GST. This means that your favorite fish ball noodles in the food court
might have ramped up its prices to 3.50 dollars to 4 dollars due to the
rise of GST, both directly and indirectly.

Petrol - Excise tax of 44cpl is applied
on every litre of petrol. GST is applied to all fuels (petrol and
diesel) as it is purchased at the retail station."

It is just strange to me that CNA had to include this sentence at
all, which gives a rather distorted picture of the rising food and
petrol prices. Would the article be worse off without that sentence? It
is very heartening that the government is going to assist Singaporeans
with this rising food and petrol costs in the upcoming budget. But did Wong Mun Wai from CNA had to do this additional (seemingly unneeded) P-R work for the government?

Responses so far ↓

Do you recall the MOS, one of the new ones, actually took to task a
kindergarten/nursery school for upping its prices beyond the 2% GST
increase?

Surely, the man in the street will know that a 2% rise in GST will
increase the cost for practically EVERY sort of goods or services that
an individual or an organisation, eg the kindergarten in question,
needs. So the kindergarten increase in price is its increased cost + 2%
more GST.
Can Singaporeans believe leaders who could so blatantly lie to you without batting an eyelid?